Is this true? Polk County Budget Woes

[Ocoeerunner]

[August 04, 2007]

Polk budget woes may keep $8.8 million jail from opening

(Chattanooga Times (Free Press, TN)(KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Aug. 4--RON CLAYTON

CORRESPONDENT

BENTON, Tenn.-- The Polk County budget may not contain enough money to open and operate the $8.8 million jail now under construction, county budget committee members said this week.

The proposed $6.4 million budget for 2007-08 includes a property tax increase of 10 cents per $100 of assessed value. The tax rate would be around $2.99 per $100.

Budget committee Chairman Mark Bishop said raising the property tax enough to open and operate the 150-bed jail and courts complex would require a rate of about $3.50.

"We have only 16,000 people in this county, and we can't keep on raising taxes," Mr. Bishop said at a workshop Thursday night. "If people don't pay the taxes and the state comes in and dissolves the county, we will become part of Bradley or McMinn."

[Bradley Buzz]

Did you ever think Bradley or McMinn may not want it. Why should those residents bail out another county that couldnt manage their finances.